WealthPulse.
Calculator · Business & Tech

ROI & Payback Calculator

Return, annualised return and payback period for any investment or project.

Read the how-to
42,180
The formula

How this number is built

ROI = (return − cost) ÷ cost · annualised = (return ÷ cost)1/years − 1
Step by step

Doing it by hand

Step 1

Include every cost, not just the headline purchase price.

Step 2

Add ongoing costs across the full holding period.

Step 3

Use the actual holding period so the annualised figure is meaningful.

Step 4

Apply tax to gains, since after-tax return is what you keep.

Step 5

Compare the annualised number against your alternatives, not against zero.

Questions

What people ask next

Why annualise?

A 60% return over eight years is worse than 20% over one. Annualising puts every option on the same clock.

Should sunk costs count?

For a decision about the future, no. For measuring what happened, yes.

Search intent

Searches this page answers

Related searchGoes to
tradingHow to Calculate ROI & Payback
how to calculate roiHow to Calculate ROI & Payback
how to calculate profit marginHow to Calculate ROI & Payback
Keep going

Tools that follow from this one

Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.